Members of an alleged gypsy gang cut off a South Bank man's penis early Thursday morning after he had sex with a girlfriend of one of the men. The unnamed 40-year-old man was found staggering along the A66 in Middlesbrough just before 5 a.m., apparently scouring the grass verge for his severed member.

The man suffered injuries to his genitals, as well as other parts of his body, and was taken to hospital where he was put into an induced coma and operated on. He was reported to be in a serious condition, having lost a significant amount of blood.

Police blocked off the section dual carriageway between Church Lane and Greystones Roundabout for more than five hours that morning, alternating sides. It has yet to be reported if investigators were able to recover the missing appendage during their search.

A 22-year-old man was arrested later that day on suspicion of taking part in the assault, though he has already been released on bail.

No other details about the case were available at the time of publication, though an investigation is ongoing.